The Center for Christianity in Business at Houston Baptist University is dedicated to challenging and equipping present and future business leaders to integrate biblical values and principles in their personal and professional lives.
The Christian Business Review is an annual publication edited by Center director, Dr. Ernest Liang. The organization is also known for a podcast featuring some of the best in business. The CCB organizes a number of conferences, seminars and networking events each year to help equip business professionals and students to become shrewd stewards, effective leaders and bold witnesses in God鈥檚 economy.
Recently, the Center released the book, 鈥淐hristianity in Business: Applying Biblical Values in the Marketplace,鈥� edited by Ernest P. Liang.
Backstory
Dr. Ernest Liang, associate professor of Finance, has brought a wealth of experience with him as a leader in HBU鈥檚 Archie W. Dunham College of Business. Before he came to HBU a dozen years ago, Liang worked in the business world for more than 25 years. He served as a chief economist, financial planning manager, chief financial officer and director of a corporate finance group for business sectors including retail, travel, energy and finance. His resume includes Montgomery Ward, United Airlines and Halliburton.
He was an investment banker by day and an adjunct professor at a local university when Rita Tauer, HBU associate provost for Academic Operations, called Liang to tell him about a full-time teaching position at HBU. Being a professor wasn鈥檛 something that Liang initially had in mind, but he decided to pray about it.
鈥淥ne of the things that attracted me to HBU is the opportunity to run a center,鈥� he said. 鈥淕od planted it in my mind to integrate the academic institution鈥檚 approach to learning with how we actually practice God鈥檚 mandate in our lives. The world of commerce can be dark and cutthroat and merciless, but God has a mandate for every sphere of activity in the universe.鈥�
Liang envisioned a resource by which current and future businesspeople could be equipped with real-world knowledge for carrying out their work with integrity and wisdom. 鈥淚鈥檝e been a Christian so long and I鈥檝e seen a lot of things in the business world. I have a lot of anecdotal evidence I can talk about,鈥� Liang said. 鈥淚f Christians are not equipped to handle what God has placed us into, we鈥檒l be much less effective witnesses for Him. That kind of training is needed for every Christian who is in the business world. I call it 鈥榣ifelong learning experiences鈥� for Christians.鈥�
Early on, Liang conducted research to see if there was a comparable center or resource; he didn鈥檛 locate anything like it in the world. As a full-time faculty member at HBU, Liang began work to establish the center. A matching gift moved generous benefactors to give, and the Center for Christianity in Business began with a $110,000 endowment. From there, Liang formed a Board of Advisors, and the Center began.
Today
In 2019, the reach of the Center is global, with people in 70 countries receiving material. The Center produces resources including a podcast in which experts weigh in on topics ranging from workplace culture to mission work. There have been more than 20,000 downloads of the CCB podcast.
Liang and the Center produce a beautiful annual journal, The Christian Business Review, a top-notch publication featuring bright minds and respected leaders in business. The Review is available in print and online. The CCB offers luncheons three times per year featuring impressive speakers who have carved a niche in the world of business while living their Christian faith.
Additionally, the Center offers a Business Executive Training Certificate Program, conferences and seminars. The content and camaraderie are sought out by many who value it, Liang said. 鈥淭here鈥檚 a huge demand for this kind of thing. We鈥檙e always trying to find a way to reach out and inspire,鈥� he said. 鈥淲e give practical hints and ideas to businesspeople.鈥�
The thing about business is that it is versatile and applicable in every sphere, Liang said, including healthcare, education, law and even ministry. 鈥淭he world of commerce is basically in every line and fabric of society,鈥� he said. 鈥淯niformly, people are very appreciative of what we do. Many of them walk away with a better understanding of how they can be effective. They鈥檙e hungry for this kind of thing.鈥�
Recently, the Center released the book, 鈥�.鈥� It contains compelling essays which answer some of the questions that the business environment and culture pose. In 2019, the CCB will offer a series of seminars on topics like human resource management and leadership.
鈥淚n business school, you probably learn about negotiation and leadership, but we try to fill in some of the gaps. How do you develop and manage teams for example? How do you become an effective servant leader?鈥� Liang asks. 鈥淥ur objective is to use God鈥檚 resources to build up the body of Christ.鈥� Learn more at HC.edu/CCB.